Nurses and Midwives Trainees Lament Hardship

The Coalition of Concerned Nurses and Midwives Trainees in Ghana has raised alarms over the government’s failure to disburse outstanding allowances, leaving hundreds of students in severe financial distress.

Despite Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s assurances, the government still owes final-year trainees a staggering 22 months of arrears. This has led to more than one hundred students facing potential expulsion from exam halls across the country due to unpaid fees.

In addition to the unpaid allowances, trainees are forced to pay clinical charges ranging from GHC 50.00 to GHC 150.00 to undertake their mandatory clinical experiences in public health facilities. This new financial burden includes costs for consumables like gloves, sanitizers, and pens, previously provided by the hospitals. As a result, many students are struggling to meet these costs, risking their education and essential needs.

The Coalition has highlighted the untenable situation, stating that they lack the financial capacity to bear these extra charges, especially since they provide their services to the nation free of charge, despite the risks involved. A component of their fees, the clinical attachment fee, is already paid, making these additional charges even more unreasonable.

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The Coalition urges the government to reconsider and implement a proposal from January 30, 2014, to pay trainees a Clinical Service Allowance equivalent to 50% of their current allowance. This proposal has yet to receive approval.

The Coalition is demanding immediate government action to:

• – Settle all outstanding allowances.
• – Absorb the costs of consumable commodities and accommodation for trainees during clinicals.
• – Implement the long-proposed Clinical Risk Allowance.

The failure to address these issues is crippling the future of healthcare in Ghana, the Coalition warned. “We demand action now to address these grievances and ensure trainees can focus on their studies without financial distress,” stated Immortal Agbeti Robert, a convener of the Coalition.

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The Coalition of Nurses and Midwives Trainees data reveals that 73 institutions are affected, with a total amount of GHC 370,548,000.00 owed to continuing students before the most recent payments in May 2024.

The discrepancies in the budget and actual disbursements have further compounded the issue, with a net loss calculated at GHC 13,282,400.00, which could have covered 0.65 to 0.69 months of allowances for trainees.

The Coalition calls for the Ministry of Health to fulfill its promises and resolve these financial discrepancies to support the nation’s future healthcare providers.